Karachi Literature Festival

Karachi Literature Festival
Status active
Date(s) 2010
Frequency Annually
Venue Carton Hotel (2010 - 2012)
Beach Luxury Hotel (2013[1] - present)
Location(s) Karachi
Country Pakistan
Years active 2010-present
Inaugurated 2010
Founder Ameena Saiyid and Asif Farrukhi
Most recent 5 - 7 February 2016
Previous event 6 - 8 February 2015
Attendance approx. 5,000 (2010)
10,000 (2011)
15,000 (2012)
50,000 (2013)
70,000 (2014)[2]
Organised by Oxford University Press, Karachi
British Council
Website www.karachiliteraturefestival.org

Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) is an annual international literary festival held in Karachi, Pakistan. It is the first festival of its kind in the country.[3] It is one of the world's youngest and fastest growing literary festivals.[4] Till 2016, seven editions of this festival have been held.

Founders

The Festival was founded by Ameena Saiyid, OBE, and Dr. Asif Farrukhi.[5]

Organisers

It is jointly organised by Oxford University Press, Pakistan and British Council.

Second Festival

This festival was co-sponsored by the US Consulate in Karachi. The French Consulate in Karachi also sponsored two of the panelists.

Format

The festival consists of literary discussions, book launches, and creative writing workshops. There is also an opportunity to meet authors, book signings and visit a book fair.

Dates

  • 2010: March: 20 & 21
  • 2011: February: 5 & 6[3]
  • 2012: February: 11 & 12
  • 2013: February: 15, 16 & 17
  • 2014: February: 7, 8 & 9
  • 2015: February: 6, 7 & 8
  • 2016: February: 5, 6 & 7

Award

In 2011, the festival organisers announced the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) Prize for Best Non-Fiction Book in English. The book has to have been published in the preceding year. The award carries a monetary award of Rs. 100,000.[6]

2011

  • Jury: Zubeida Mustafa, Ghazi Salahuddin and Dr Jaffer Ahmad.[6]
  • Winner: ‘The Culture of Power and Governance of Pakistan (1947-2008)’ by Ilhan Niaz[7][8] Published by: Oxford University Press, Karachi 2010 ISBN 978-0-19-547731-3, ISBN 0-19-547731-6

First Festival

The inaugural event was held on 20 March 2010. Amongst the writers who participated were: Aamer Hussein; Mohammad Hanif; Mohsin Hamid; Samina Quraeshi, Fahmida Riaz and Bapsi Sidhwa.[9]

Second Festival

This year's festival participants included: Aamer Hussein; Mohammad Hanif; Mohsin Hamid; Sara Suleri; Tahira Abdullah; Muneeza Shamsie; Noorjehan Bilgrami; Bina Shah; Zahida Hina; Kamila Shamsie; Anita Ghulam Ali; Daniyal Mueenuddin; Yasmeen Hameed; Maleeha Lodhi, Ayesha Siddiqa; Kishwar Naheed; Asif Noorani; Sheema Kirmani; Madeeha Gauhar; Intiaz Hussain; Zehra Nigah; H. M. Naqvi; Ali Sethi; Amjad Islam Amjad; Hassan Dars; Ali Akbar Natiq; Mudassar Bashir; Attiya Dawood and Jean-Luc Racine The plenary session was by Karen Armstrong.

With 2011 declared Year of Faiz Ahmed Faiz,[10] the festival paid tribute to him. The poet's grandson, Ali Madeeh Hashmi, talked about him as did Zehra Nigah and Ali Sethi. The band Laal closed out the festivities.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Karachi Literature Festival begins today Peerzada Salman, February 15, 2013. Retrieved 08 february 2016
  2. ↑ KLF Official Website Retrieved 08 February 2016
  3. 1 2 Karachi Literature Festival British Council Retrieved 7 February 2011
  4. ↑ Karachi Literature Retrieved 7 February 2011
  5. ↑ Founders KLF website. Retrieved 8 November 2011
  6. 1 2 Thought-provoking Karachi Literature Festival conclude Daily Times 7 February 2011
  7. ↑ With a bang, not a whimper the Karachi Literature Festival comes to a Express Tribune 7 February 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2011
  8. ↑ Winner of KLF Award Official website. Retrieved 9 February 2011
  9. ↑ 1st Karachi Literature Festival All Things Pakistan 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2011
  10. ↑ About Karachi Literature Festival Retrieved 7 February 2011
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